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Biomedical subjects

G Peluso

Publications and source records attributed to G Peluso.

65 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Transglutaminase in cell proliferation and transformation.

Transglutaminase (TGase) activity was reduced in intact mitogen-stimulated human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) when compared to intact resting PBL. Moreover, a treatment of the same quiescent immunocompetent cells with purified liver TGase and Ca2+ completely suppressed the mitogen-induced blast transformation. A decrease in TGase activity in neoplastically transformed seminal vesicle epithelial cells with respect to their normal parent counterpart was also observed. Our data support the notion of a possible implication of TGase in cell proliferation and transformation.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

A protein family immunorelated to a sperm-binding protein and its regulation in human semen.

In human seminal plasma a family of proteins that is immunologically related to the RSV-IV protein secreted under androgen control from the epithelium of the rat seminal vesicles was detected by a radioimmunoassay. Evidence for the origin of these antigens from human seminal vesicle is presented. Quantitative measurements of this family of proteins were performed in men with low levels of serum testosterone (idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism) and in individuals having serum testosterone in the normal range of values but carrying sex chromosome aberrations (Klinefelter's syndrome). In the first case we have found a marked decrease in the total amount of the RSV-IV-related proteins. An increase of about 40% in the total amount of these antigens was obtained in these subjects by gonadotropin treatment. A decreased amount of these proteins was also detected in the subjects affected by Klinefelter's syndrome. The possibility that some factor(s) under genetic control is involved, in addition to testosterone, in the regulation of this family of proteins is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

T-lymphocyte subsets in pregnant women with Graves' disease.

T-lymphocyte subpopulations, anti-thyroid microsomal antibody titres, and free triiodothyronine and free thyroxine levels were investigated in 10 patients with Graves' disease before, during and after pregnancy. Twenty pregnant subjects and 100 normal age-matched, non-pregnant female volunteers served as controls. Pregnant patients with Graves' disease showed decrease levels of free triiodothyronine and free thyroxine, and decreased titres of anti-thyroid microsomal antibodies, with clinical remission during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Post partum, 9 patients showed clinical relapse, and all showed a return of enhanced levels of free triiodothyronine, free thyroxine and anti-thyroid microsomal antibodies. The percentage and absolute number of total T-lymphocytes (OKT3+) and OKT4+ cells significantly decreased during pregnancy in patients with Graves' disease and in normal women. Post partum, OKT3+ and OKT4+ cells returned to pre-pregnancy levels in both groups. In Graves patients and in controls, the percentage and absolute number of OKT8+ cells during pregnancy and post partum were not significantly different from pre-pregnancy levels. Lastly, the OKT4+/OKT8+ ratio, which decreased in normal subjects at the three sampling times during pregnancy, decreased only in the last two trimesters of pregnancy in patients with Graves' disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

B-lipotropin 61-76 and 61-91 fragments act as transglutaminase substrates in vitro.

Both alpha- and beta-endorphin were shown to incorporate radioactive polyamines during incubation in the presence of purified transglutaminase and Ca2+, spermine acting as the best acyl acceptor substrate. The endorphin labelling is dependent on the time of exposure to the enzyme and on the substrate concentration. In the absence of acyl acceptor polyamines, isotopically labelled beta-endorphin gives rise to high molecular weight radioactive polymer(s). Moreover, when different proteins acting as transglutaminase substrates are added, beta-endorphin produces heterologous structures. These data indicate that the glutamine-71 of the beta-lipotropin chain, contained in both alpha- and beta-endorphin, functions as acyl donor substrate for the enzyme and that at least one beta-endorphin lysyl residue can serve as acyl acceptor.

Endorphins↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Biological activities of a major protein secreted from the rat seminal vesicles after structural modification catalyzed by transglutaminase in vitro.

The immunosuppressive, anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombotic properties of SV-IV, a major protein secreted from the epithelium of rat seminal vesicles, were investigated after transglutaminase-catalyzed covalent incorporation of two molecules of spermidine (Spd) into the protein at the level of Gln-9 and Gln-86. The modified molecular form of the protein (Spd2-SV-IV) showed a more marked inhibitory activity on Con A-induced lymphocyte blastogenesis in comparison with the native protein, whereas no differences in the ability to inhibit the mixed lymphocyte reaction and to decrease the rat epididymal sperm immunogenicity were found between modified and native SV-IV. Spd2-SV-IV was also less effective than native SV-IV to inhibit platelet aggregation induced in vivo by different thrombogenic agents. In contrast, superimposable inhibitory tracings were observed in the in vitro platelet aggregation experiments performed with the two different molecular forms on the protein. Finally, Spd2-SV-IV was shown to retain unchanged the anti-inflammatory activity of native SV-IV.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Modulation of in vitro myogenesis induced by different polymer substrates.

The understanding of substrate dependence of cellular differentiation is important in the surface design of biocompatible artificial devices as well as cell-incorporated tissue engineered devices. In an attempt to understand some of the genetic and epigenetic aspects of the control of cell differentiation in the presence of two different materials, Chronoflex (CH) and plasma treated Chronoflex coated with Hyaluronan (CH-HA), we used primary cultures of human myogenic cells, a model that encompasses cell proliferation, migration, fusion, and differentiation dependent gene activation. By testing both the material samples on the growth of human myoblasts in primary cultures, we demonstrated that both CH and CH-HA substrates were able to support the cell growth since they did not affect cell count and DNA synthesis. On the contrary, the degree of myoblast differentiation, assessed as a function of creatine phosphokinase (CPK) activity on living cells, was completely different on the two biomaterials. Indeed, the amount of CPK increased on CH-HA cultured cells as a result of myotube formation, while CH grown myoblasts remained unfused and displayed no increase on the CPK activity even after 12 days culture. Moreover, the expression level of MyoD and myogenin mRNA, both related to myogenic cell differentiation, appeared extremely low in CH-grown cells, while they were rapidly induced in CH-HA cultured myoblasts.

Journal Article↗